Johnson Wins Mvp Award Again

INGLEWOOD, CALIF. — Magic Johnson has been voted the NBA`s Most Valuable Player for the second straight year, the Los Angeles Lakers announced Monday.

Johnson, who led the Lakers to a regular-season record of 63-19, best in the NBA, has won the award three times in the last four years.

He becomes only the sixth player in NBA history to win the award three times, joining former teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone and Larry Bird.

There will be a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the Forum, where Commissioner David Stern will present the award to Johnson, who averaged 22.3 points, 11.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds per game this season.

Despite Johnson`s 25.2-point average in nine playoff games, the Lakers were eliminated last Tuesday night by the Phoenix Suns in their Western Conference semifinal series.

Media ballots were turned in at the end of the regular season. Voting results will be released Tuesday.

Johnson, 30, has led the Lakers to five NBA championships since joining them in 1979.